Optimal therapeutic strategies for pineal region lesions.

Background: The removal of pineal region lesions are challenging, and therapeutic strategies for their removal remain controversial. The current study was conducted to identify the characteristics and the optimal therapeutic strategies for pineal region lesions. Methods: This retrospective study reviewed the treatments of 101 patients with pineal region lesions, and different characteristics and therapeutic strategies were observed. Results: There were no statistical differences in the total resection ratio, complications, and prognosis outcomes between the hydrocephalus group and non-hydrocephalus group, except patients in the hydrocephalus group were younger and pediatric patients had an increased level of intracranial infections. Treatments of lesions and hydrocephalus secondary to pineal region lesions were two integral parts to therapeutic strategies. For the management of lesions, germinoma or non-germinoma were diagnosed preoperatively, and resection or diagnostic radiation were chosen to deal with pineal region lesions. Endoscopic-assisted surgery provided a higher total resection rate. For the management of hydrocephalus, endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) had the better therapeutic effect. Additionally, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion before radiotherapy or resection did not improve prognosis outcome, but it was necessary for patients with severe hydrocephalus. Logistical regression analysis indicated that age, lesion size, reoperation ratio, and intracranial complications were predictors of prognosis outcome. Conclusion: More attention should be paid to intracranial infections in pediatric patients with hydrocephalus secondary to pineal region lesions, and CSF diversion before radiotherapy or resection did not promote prognosis outcome, but it was necessary for patients with severe hydrocephalus. Age, lesion size, reoperation ratio, and intracranial complications may be the predictors of prognosis outcome. Most importantly, the surgical algorithm for pineal region lesions which was based on preoperatively diagnosis (non-germinoma and germinoma) is useful, especially for developing countries.

Ubiquitin E3 ligase AtCHYR2 functions in glucose regulation of germination and post-germinative growth in Arabidopsis thaliana.

KEY MESSAGE: Cytoplasm-localized RING ubiquitin E3 ligase AtCHYR2 involved in plant glucose responses during germination and post-germinative growth. CHY ZINC FINGER AND RING PROTEIN (CHYR) containing both a CHY zinc finger and a C3H2C3-type RING domain plays important roles in plant drought tolerance and the abscisic acid (ABA) response; however, their functions in sugar signaling pathways are less studied. Here, we report a glucose (Glc) response gene AtCHYR2, a homolog of RZFP34/CHYR1, which is induced by various abiotic stresses, ABA, and sugar treatments. In vitro, we demonstrated that AtCHYR2 is a cytoplasm-localized RING ubiquitin E3 ligase. Overexpression of AtCHYR2 led to hypersensitivity to Glc and enhanced Glc-mediated inhibition of cotyledon greening and post-germinative growth. Contrastingly, AtCHYR2 loss-of-function plants were insensitive to Glc-regulated seed germination and primary root growth, suggesting that AtCHYR2 is a positively regulator of the plant glucose response. Additionally, physiological analyses showed that overexpression AtCHYR2 increased stomata aperture and photosynthesis under normal condition, and promoted accumulation of endogenous soluble sugar and starch in response to high Glc. Genome-wide RNA sequencing analysis showed that AtCHYR2 affects a major proportion of Glc-responsive genes. Particularly, sugar marker gene expression analysis suggested that AtCHYR2 enhances the Glc response via a signaling pathway dependent on glucose metabolism. Taken together, our findings show that a novel RING ubiquitin E3 ligase, AtCHYR2, plays an important role in glucose responses in Arabidopsis.

Performance Enhancement of Silver Nanowire-Based Transparent Electrodes by Ultraviolet Irradiation.

Silver nanowires (AgNWs) are used as transparent electrodes (TE) in many devices. However, the contact mode between the nanowires is the biggest reason why the sheet resistance of silver nanowires is limited. Here, simple and effective ultraviolet (UV) irradiation welding is chosen to solve this problem. The influence of the power density of the UV irradiation on welding of the silver nanowires is studied and the fixed irradiation time is chosen as one minute. The range of the UV (380 nm) irradiation power is chosen from 30 mW/cm2 to 150 mW/cm2. First of all, the transmittance of the silver nanowire film is not found to be affected by the UV welding (400-11,000 nm). The sheet resistance of the silver nanowires decreases to 73.9% at 60 mW/cm2 and increases to 127.6% at 120 mW/cm2. The investigations on the UV irradiation time reveal that the sheet resistance of the AgNWs decreases continuously when the UV irradiation time is varied from 0 to 3 min, and drops to 57.3% of the initial value at 3 min. From 3-6 min of the continuous irradiation time, the change of the sheet resistance is not obvious, which reflects the self-limiting and self-termination of AgNWs welding. By changing the wavelength of the UV irradiation from 350-400 nm, it is found that the welding effect is best when the UV wavelength is 380 nm. The average transmittance, square resistance, and the figure of merit of the welded AgNWs at 400-780 nm are 95.98%, 56.5 Ω/sq, and 117.42 × 10-4 Ω-1, respectively. The UV-welded AgNWs are also used in silicon-based photodetectors, and the quantum efficiency of the device is improved obviously.

VisProDom: an interactive Shiny/R application for displaying protein domains with transcriptional features.

BACKGROUND: Both the protein domains and transcript structures influence protein functional variation. The genomic location of both protein domains and transcript structural features can be described using the genomic coordinates of their encoded sequences. However, the coordinates of protein domains and transcriptional features often differ greatly, and it is difficult to view them in combination at the genome-wide level. In this paper, we describe the development of a new tool that allows users to visualize domains and transcript features together, using either built-in or uploaded genome datasets, and export publication-ready figures.  RESULTS: We developed a user-friendly, independent R package and Shiny web application named "VisProDom". VisProDom consists of a genome-wide database containing entire annotated transcripts merged with annotated protein domains from the Pfam database. The built-in dataset includes 82 files, which merge genome general feature format (GFF) annotations with rpsblast tabular outputs from protein sequence searches in the Pfam database. Multiple genomes can be simultaneously screened for protein domains or transcript names. VisProDom includes step-by-step introductions and clickable elements for ease of use. CONCLUSION: VisProDom can display hundreds of transcripts alongside protein domains and export figures in a publication-ready format. This makes it a valuable tool for molecular evolution and comparative genomics.

Morbidity burden of respiratory diseases attributable to ambient temperature: a case study in a subtropical city in China.

BACKGROUND: There are significant associations between ambient temperature and respiratory disease mortality. However, few studies have assessed the morbidity burdens of various respiratory diseases that are attributable to different temperature ranges in subtropical regions. METHODS: Daily outpatient visits, weather variables, and air pollution data were collected from January 2013 to August 2017 in a hospital in Dongguan city. A standard time series quasi-Poisson regression with a distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) was applied to estimate the associations between daily mean temperature and morbidity for total respiratory diseases, bronchiectasis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and asthma. Attributable fractions were then calculated to quantify disease burden relative to different temperature components. Finally, we conducted stratified analysis by age group. RESULTS: Both low and high temperatures were associated with an increased risk of morbidity secondary to respiratory diseases. Compared with the optimum temperature, the accumulated relative risk (RR) during the seven lag days was 1.13 with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.01-1.26 for extreme heat and 1.02 (95% CI: 0.99-1.05) for extreme cold. Heat-related respiratory morbidity risk was higher than cold-related risk for the total population, but an opposite result was observed for the elderly. About 8.4% (95% CI: 2.8-13.3%) of respiratory morbidity was attributable to non-optimal temperatures, and moderate heat was responsible for most of the excess respiratory morbidity (7.5, 95% CI: 2.4-12.2%). CONCLUSIONS: We found that exposure to non-optimal temperatures increased the risk of respiratory morbidity in subtropical region, and moderate heat contributed to most of the temperature-related respiratory morbidities. This indicates a need for further examination of moderate, rather than extreme, heat in subtropical region.

Ambient carbon monoxide and increased risk of daily hospital outpatient visits for respiratory diseases in Dongguan, China.

BACKGROUND: The toxicity of high-concentration carbon monoxide (CO) on human health has previously been documented. However, the epidemiological evidence on the association between acute exposure to ambient CO and respiratory diseases is relatively lacking and controversial. OBJECTIVES: To examine the short-term association between ambient CO and hospital outpatient visits for respiratory diseases in Dongguan, China. METHODS: The number of daily hospital outpatient visits for respiratory diseases, and air pollution and meteorological data were collected from January 2013 to August 2017. A generalized additive model with a quasi-Poisson link was used to estimate the association between ambient CO concentration and the total number of hospital outpatient visits for all respiratory diseases and those for asthma, bronchiectasis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pneumonia. We further analyzed the effect of ambient CO by gender and age. RESULTS: Over the study period, a 24-h mean concentration of ambient CO of 0.88 mg/m3 (below the limit for CO in China) and a total of 89,484 hospital outpatient visits for respiratory diseases were recorded. Ambient CO was found to increase the risk for asthma, bronchiectasis, pneumonia and the total number of respiratory diseases. The per interquartile range (IQR) increase in ambient CO at lag03 day corresponded to a 5.62% (95% confidence interval (CI): 3.24%, 8.05%), 8.86% (95% CI: 4.89%, 12.98%), 6.67% (95% CI: 0.87%, 12.81%) and 7.20% (95% CI: 2.35%, 12.29%) increased risk in outpatient visits for all respiratory diseases, asthma, bronchiectasis and pneumonia, respectively. Each association was partially weakened after adjusting for co-pollutants. The effect of ambient CO on respiratory diseases appeared to be greater for females and the elderly. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term exposure to ambient CO was associated with increased risk of outpatient visits for respiratory diseases. Our analysis may help to understand the health effects of low-levels of CO and provide evidence for the creation of air quality standards.

Cyberbullying perpetration and victimisation among junior and senior high school students in Guangzhou, China.

OBJECTIVES: Cyberbullying research in China is in early stage. This study describes the cyberbullying experiences of junior and senior high school students in Guangzhou, China, and to examine the risk factors associated with cyberbullying perpetrators, victims and perpetrator-victims among students. We also investigated the frequency of cyberbullying and coping strategies of student victims. METHODS: Participants were 2590 students in grades 7, 8, 9 and 10 from six junior and senior high schools in October 2015 in Guangzhou, in south China, who completed a questionnaire. Data on participants' experiences with cyberbullying perpetration and victimisation during the previous 6 months were collected. Multinomial logistic regression was used to analyse factors associated with being perpetrators, victims and perpetrator-victims. RESULTS: In this sample, 28.0% (725) of participants reported being a perpetrator and 44.5% (1150) reported being a victim in the previous 6 months. Specifically, 2.9% (74) reported being perpetrators only, 19.3% (499) reported being victims only and 25.2% (651) reported being perpetrator-victims (both perpetrator and victim). In addition, flaming was the most common form of cyberbullying in both perpetration and victimisation. Logistic regression analyses indicated that online game addiction in participants was associated with increased odds of being a perpetrator only; no democratic parenting style in the mother and physical discipline by parents were associated with increased odds of being a victim only; male students, students with low academic achievement, those spending over 2 hours a day online, experiencing physical discipline from parents and online game addiction were associated with increased odds of both perpetration and victimisation. CONCLUSIONS: Cyberbullying is a common experience among Chinese junior and senior high school students. These findings add to the empirical data on cyberbullying and reinforce the urgent need for cyberbullying prevention in China. Furthermore, from the perspective of practice, it is important to raise our awareness of cyerbullying and reduce the risk factors.

Time-Dependent Changes in Increased Levels of Plasma Irisin and Muscle PGC-1α and FNDC5 after Exercise in Mice.

Exercise induces the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1-α (PGC-1α) in skeletal muscle, which promotes the cleavage of fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5 (FNDC5) to irisin. To explore the relationship between irisin and its regulators, we analyzed the plasma irisin levels and the muscle levels of FNDC5 and PGC-1α after exercise. Male C57BL/6J mice underwent a treadmill exercise (60% of VO2max) for 30 min or one hour (h), and blood and gastrocnemius samples were collected before exercise (pre-exercise), immediately after exercise, and during 24-h recovery after 1-h exercise. We found that plasma irisin levels were significantly increased during exercise (P < 0.05), while FNDC5 protein levels were not significantly increased. Moreover, PGC-1α mRNA and protein levels were significantly increased during 30-min exercise, but were decreased during 1-h exercise. After 1-h exercise, the irisin levels peaked at 6 h (20.71 ± 0.25 ng/ml) and decreased to pre-exercise levels by 24 h (15.45 ± 0.27 ng/ml). Likewise, PGC-1α mRNA and protein levels were increased at 1 h and maintained at elevated levels for 6 h; thereafter, the expression levels of PGC1-α protein were decreased to pre-exercise levels at 12 h. Thus, the restoration of PGC-1α expression to the pre-exercise levels was followed by the decrease in plasma irisin levels. By contrast, during 24-h recovery, the expression levels of FNDC5 mRNA and protein were maintained at elevated levels. These results suggest that the coordinated expression of FNDC5 and PGC-1α may contribute to the increased levels of plasma irisin after exercise.

The dengue preface to endemic in mainland China: the historical largest outbreak by Aedes albopictus in Guangzhou, 2014.

BACKGROUND: Dengue was regarded as a mild epidemic in mainland China transmitted by Aedes albopictus. However, the 2014 record-breaking outbreak in Guangzhou could change the situation. In order to provide an early warning of epidemic trends and provide evidence for prevention and control strategies, we seek to characterize the 2014 outbreak through application of detailed cases and entomological data, as well as phylogenetic analysis of viral envelope (E) gene. METHODS: We used case survey data identified through the Notifiable Infectious Disease Report System, entomological surveillance and population serosurvey, along with laboratory testing for IgM/IgG, NS1, and isolation of viral samples followed by E gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis to examine the epidemiological and molecular characteristics of the outbreak. RESULTS: The 2014 dengue outbreak in Guangzhou accounted for nearly 80% of total reported cases that year in mainland China; a total of 37,376 cases including 37,340 indigenous cases with incidence rate 2908.3 per million and 36 imported cases were reported in Guangzhou, with 14,055 hospitalized and 5 deaths. The epidemic lasted for 193 days from June 11 to December 21, with the highest incidence observed in domestic workers, the unemployed and retirees. The inapparent infection rate was 18.00% (135/750). In total, 96 dengue virus 1 (DENV-1) and 11 dengue virus 2 (DENV-2) strains were isolated. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the DENV-1 strains were divided into genotype I and V, similar to the strains isolated in Guangzhou and Dongguan in 2013. The DENV-2 strains isolated were similar to those imported from Thailand on May 11 in 2014 and that imported from Indonesia in 2012. CONCLUSIONS: The 2014 dengue epidemic was confirmed to be the first co-circulation of DENV-1 and DENV-2 in Guangzhou. The DENV-1 strain was endemic, while the DENV-2 strain was imported, being efficiently transmitted by the Aedes albopictus vector species at levels as high as Aedes aegypti.

Microstructure formation and interface characteristics of directionally solidified TiAl-Si alloys in alumina crucibles with a new Y2O3 skull-aided technology.

The microstructure evolution and interface characteristics of a directionally solidified Ti-43Al-3Si (at.%) alloy in an alumina (Al2O3) crucible with new Y2O3 skull-aided technology were investigated. The Y2O3-skull that is in contact with the TiAl-melt is relatively stable, which results in a more controlled reaction between the skull and the melt than in the case of an Al2O3 crucible is used. A thin reaction layer was formed between the mould and the melt through mutual diffusion. The layer thickness increased with increasing reaction time. The thickness of this layer was less than 80 µm for reaction times up to 5800 s. Y2O3 particles were not found in the specimen because the mould coating was prepared with fine Y2O3 powder without a binder, which prevented the Y2O3 particles splitting from the coating as a consequence of thermal physical erosion. The oxygen content of the TiAl-alloy increased with increasing reaction time. The total oxygen content of the solidified specimen was less than that of the specimen solidified in the Al2O3 crucibles. This new Y2O3 skull-aided technology is expected to improve the surface quality of TiAl-alloys and reduce the reaction between the crucible/mould and molten TiAl alloys during directional solidification processing with longer contact times.

Ambient fine and coarse particulate matter pollution and respiratory morbidity in Dongguan, China.

We estimated the short-term effects of particulate matter (PM) pollution with aerodynamic diameters ≤2.5 µm (PM2.5) and between 2.5 and 10 µm (PMc) on hospital outpatient visits due to overall and specific respiratory diseases, as well as the associated morbidity burden in Dongguan, a subtropical city in South China. A time-series model with quasi-Poisson link was used to examine the association between PM pollution and morbidities from respiratory diseases, COPD, asthma and pneumonia in Dongguan during 2013-2015. We further estimated the morbidity burden (population attributable fraction and attributable morbidity) due to ambient PM pollution. A total of 44,801 hospital outpatient visits for respiratory diseases were recorded during the study period. Both PM2.5 and PMc were found to be significantly associated with morbidity of overall respiratory diseases, COPD, and asthma. An IQR (interquartile range) increase in PM2.5 at lag03 day was associated with 15.41% (95% CI: 10.99%, 20.01%) increase in respiratory morbidity, and each IQR increase in PMc at lag03 corresponded to 7.24% (95% CI: 4.25%, 10.32%) increase in respiratory morbidity. We did not find significant effects of PM2.5 and PMc on pneumonia. Using WHO's guideline (25 µg/m3) as reference concentration, about 8.32% (95% CI: 5.90%, 10.86%) of respiratory morbidity (3727, 95% CI: 2642, 4867, in morbidity number) were estimated to be attributed to PM2.5, and 0.86% (95% CI: 0.50%, 1.23%) of respiratory morbidity, representing 385 (95% CI: 225, 551) hospital outpatient visits, could be attributed to coarse particulate pollutant. Our study suggests that both fine and coarse particulate pollutants are an important trigger of hospital outpatient visits for respiratory diseases, and account for substantial respiratory morbidity in Dongguan, China.

Analysis of National Major Work Safety Accidents in China, 2003-2012.

BACKGROUND: This study provides a national profile of major work safety accidents in China, which cause more than 10 fatalities per accident, intended to provide scientific basis for prevention measures and strategies to reduce major work safety accidents and deaths. METHODS: Data from 2003-2012 Census of major work safety accidents were collected from State Administration of Work Safety System (SAWS). Published literature and statistical yearbook were also included to implement information. We analyzed the frequency of accidents and deaths, trend, geographic distribution and injury types. Additionally, we discussed the severity and urgency of emergency rescue by types of accidents. RESULTS: A total of 877 major work safety accidents were reported, resulting in 16,795 deaths and 9,183 injuries. The numbers of accidents and deaths, mortality rate and incidence of major accidents have declined in recent years. The mortality rate and incidence was 0.71 and 1.20 per 10(6) populations in 2012, respectively. Transportation and mining contributed to the highest number of major accidents and deaths. Major aviation and railway accidents caused more casualties per incident, while collapse, machinery, electrical shock accidents and tailing dam accidents were the most severe situation that resulted in bigger proportion of death. CONCLUSION: Ten years' major work safety accident data indicate that the frequency of accidents and number of eaths was declined and several safety concerns persist in some segments.

Nosocomial infection control in healthcare settings: Protection against emerging infectious diseases.

The Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) outbreak in Korea in 2015 may be attributable to poor nosocomial infection control procedures implemented. Strict infection control measures were taken in the hospital where an imported case with MERS was treated in southern China and 53 health care workers were confirmed to be MERS-CoV negative. Infection control in healthcare settings, in which patients with emerging infectious diseases such as MERS, Ebola virus disease, and the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) are diagnosed and treated, are often imperfect. When it comes to emerging or unknown infectious diseases, before the imported case was finally identified or community transmission was reported, cases have often occurred in clusters in healthcare settings. Nosocomial infection control measures should be further strengthened among the workers and inpatients in designated healthcare settings that accommodate suspected cases suffering from emerging or unknown infectious diseases.

Colorectal cancer: using blood samples and tumor tissue to detect K-ras mutations.

We performed a meta-analysis to assess whether blood can be substituted for tumor tissue in K-ras mutation testing. PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and BIOSIS databases were searched. Twenty-three studies including 1261 patients were included. The pooled overall sensitivity, specificity, and concordance rate were 0.69 (95% CI: 0.59-0.78), 0.96 (95% CI: 0.93-0.97), and 0.86 (95% CI: 0.82-0.89), respectively. Subgroup analysis indicated that plasma (sensitivity: 0.74; mutation rate: 0.34) exhibited superior sensitivity compared with serum (sensitivity: 0.45; mutation rate: 0.24). We conclude that blood is a suitable substitute for tumor tissue in K-ras mutation testing. K-ras mutation positivity in blood can be used to identify patients who should not receive EGFR monoclonal antibody therapy, but the absence of blood positivity does not necessarily imply negativity.

[Analysis on the individual-response behavior and the influence factors to violent terrorist attacks among undergraduates in Guangzhou].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze related behaviors of individual preparedness and influencing factors on violent terrorist attacks among undergraduates. METHODS: A total of 1 800 undergraduates from 5 colleges or universities in Guangzhou were selected, using the stratified cluster method. A questionnaire involving the response to violent terrorist attack behavior was used to assess the individual preparedness behaviors among undergraduates. A self-made questionnaire was applied to collect information on demographic factors, cognitive and preparedness behaviors. RESULTS: The mean score of individual preparedness behavior among undergraduates was 13.49 ± 5.02 while information on seeking behavior was 4.27 ± 1.64, avoidance behavior was 5.97 ± 2.16 and violent terrorist attack response behaviors was 23.73 ± 7.21, with 30.0 percent of undergraduates behaved properly. Significant differences were found in the scores of behaviors on the response to violent terrorist attack with different gender, major they pursue or religious belief (P < 0.05), among undergraduates involved in this study. Results from the logistic regression analysis revealed that persons being girls (OR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.06-2.01), with bigger perceived probability (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.12-2.30), with higher alertness (OR = 3.77, 95% CI: 2.15-6.61), with stronger coping confidence (OR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.24-0.48) and bigger affective response (OR1 = 3.42, 95% CI: 2.40-4.86; OR2 = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.13-0.41), would present more prominent behavior responses when facing the violent terrorist attack. CONCLUSION: Individual response behaviors to violent terrorist attacks among undergraduates were relatively ideal. Perceived probability, alertness, coping confidence and affective response appeared to be independent influencing factors related to response behaviors against violent terrorist attack. In colleges and universities, awareness on violent terrorist attacks should be strengthened among undergraduates. Focus should target on psychological education dealing with disaster, knowledge and skills needed for emergency response, so as to respond to the emergency on campus.

Sexual violence experienced by male and female Chinese college students in Guangzhou.

OBJECTIVES: Sexual violence research in China is in its early stages. This study described the sexual violence experience of college students in Guangzhou, China, and examined the individual and family factors associated with increased sexual perpetration and victimisation. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 2200 college students from three universities in Guangzhou, China, was conducted in 2010. Data on sexual perpetration and/or victimisation experienced during the past 12 months were collected. Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the individual and family factors associated with odds of sexual assault perpetration, victimisation, or both. RESULTS: Over a quarter (25.4%) of students experienced at least one form of sexual violence during the past 12 months, either as a perpetrator or as a victim, and nearly 10% of students experienced both perpetration and victimisation. The number of students who identified themselves as being solely a victim was almost three times lower than being a perpetrator only (n=87 vs n=246). Engaging in risky behaviours was associated with increased odds of being a perpetrator and being both a perpetrator and a victim. Prior mistreatment by teachers or bullying by others was linked to increased risk of both perpetration and victimisation. Male students who had indulgent parents (responsive but not demanding) were at increased risk of perpetration compared with those students with authoritative parents (responsive and demanding). CONCLUSIONS: The findings add to empirical data on sexual violence in college students and reinforce the urgent need for implementation of successful sexual violence prevention programmes in China.

[Quality of life and related factors among people living with HIV/AIDS in Guangdong province].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the quality of life and related factors among people living with HIV/AIDS in Guangdong province. METHODS: A total of 443 subjects older than age 18 who had been diagnosed as HIV/AIDS were recruited from AIDS Outpatient Clinic Departments in Guangzhou and Shenzhen. HIV/AIDS-targeted quality of life(HAT-QoL)scale was used to measure the quality of life on the patients. Nonparametric test method and multiple linear regression analysis were performed to explore the related factors. RESULTS: The average scores of the following nine domains of HIV/AIDS-targeted quality of life scales were:overall function as 59.89 ± 23.35, concerns on medication as 62.91 ± 24.01, worries on factors as being disclosed, on health, on financial situation were 19.97 ± 23.04, 54.05 ± 12.24 and 35.94 ± 26.45, respectively, trust on providers as 68.72 ± 26.17, rate of understanding HIV as 61.46 ± 25.72, on life satisfaction as 56.90 ± 25.30 and on sexual function as 50.82 ± 23.86. Factors associated with quality of life would include sex, age, residential area, education, employment, marital status, complications, HAART-related prescriptions, route of infection and duration of HIV/AIDS etc. CONCLUSION: The quality of life among HIV/AIDS patients had declined, especially on worries related to disclosure and financial situation. More attention should be paid on those with poor education, low income and lack of family support in order to improve their quality of life and reducing mortality.

Effect of sulfated polysaccharides from Laminaria japonica on vascular endothelial cells in psychological stress rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Laminaria japonica is a popular seafood and medicinal plant in China. Laminaria japonica is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat and prevent hypertension and edema. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The vascular protective activity and mechanism of sulfated polysaccharides were studied in adrenalin-induced vascular endothelial damage in rats after psychological stress (PS). Vehicle (sham and PS groups), sulfated polysaccharide from Laminaria japonica (LP; 1mg/kg and 5mg/kg) and enoxaparin sodium (1IU/kg, reference drug) were all administered for 10 days. Behavioral changes were recorded. Plasma levels of adrenalin, cortisol, monoamine oxidase (MAO), semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO), formaldehyde, H2O2, nitric oxide (NO), endothelin-1 (ET-1), 6-keto-prostaglandin F1a (6-keto-PGF1a), and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) were measured. Endothelium-dependent relaxation of the thoracic aorta was measured and transmission electron microscopy of aortic vessels was performed. RESULTS: Adrenalin metabolites in plasma were significantly lower (P<0.01) in rats after LP administration compared with those in the PS groups. The normalized ratios of plasma NO/ET-1 and 6-keto-PGF1a/TXB2 were maintained and endothelium-dependent relaxation of the aorta was greatly enhanced after LP treatment (P<0.05). Morphological alterations were observed in vascular endothelial cells (VECs) in PS rats, with a higher number of lysosomes and vague mitochondrial cristae compared with those in the sham group. However, these histopathological changes were markedly alleviated after LP treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a protective effect of LP on VECs in PS rats. LP can regulate plasma levels of NO, ET-1, and 6-keto-PGF1a, enhance endothelium-dependent relaxation, and alleviate histopathological changes of lysosomes and mitochondria in VECs. The potential mechanism of LP on VECs in PS rats is related to its function of reducing metabolites of adrenalin.

[Analysis on the incidence and influencing factors of psychological violence among college students in Guangzhou in 2010].

OBJECTIVE: To study the incidence and influencing factors of psychological violence among college students in Guangzhou in 2010. METHODS: Convenience sampling method was used and 2 200 college students from 61 classes of three universities in Guangzhou were interviewed with self-designed questionnaire about the incidence and influencing factors of the psychological violence in 2010. The valid sample was 2 060. Chi-square test and multinomial logistic regression were used to assess the incidence and influencing factors of the psychological violence between different genders. RESULTS: A total of 66.3% (1 365/2 060) college students reported having experienced at least one kind of psychological violence during the past 12 months, either as a perpetrator or as a victim. The proportion of psychological violence among males (72.3%, 775/1 072) was significantly higher than that in females (59.7%, 590/988)(χ(2) = 36.39, P < 0.05). The incidence of perpetration only, victimization only, and both perpetration and victimization of psychological violence were 16.1% (331/2 060), 8.9% (184/2 060) and 41.3% (850/2 060), respectively. The incidence of victimization only in females was 10.4% (103/988), which was significantly higher than that in males (7.6%, 81/1 072) (χ(2) = 5.20, P < 0.05). The incidence of both perpetration and victimization in males was 47.3% (507/1 072), which was significantly higher than that in females (34.7%, 343/988) (χ(2) = 33.56, P < 0.05). In males, the multinomial logistic regression showed the risk factors for perpetration only was having harmful behavior habits (OR = 1.90). For victimization only, the risk factors were with siblings (OR = 2.42) and prior mistreatment by teachers from primary to senior high school (OR = 1.78). For both perpetration and victimization, the risk factors were with siblings (OR = 1.88), having harmful behavior habits (OR = 1.98), bad family economic conditions (difficult OR = 1.99, general OR = 1.67) and prior mistreatment by teachers from primary to senior high school(OR = 2.07). In females, the risk factors for perpetration only were self-claimed shortage of monthly living expenses(OR = 2.14) or just enough (OR = 2.26), having harmful behavior habits (OR = 1.69) (all P values<0.05) . For victimization only, the risk factors were bad family economic conditions (difficult OR = 6.67, 15 persons; general OR = 3.81), bullied by others before university(OR = 2.05). For both perpetration and victimization, the risk factors were self-claimed shortage of monthly living expenses (OR = 1.81), bad family economic conditions (OR = 2.43), disharmonious relations between parents (OR = 1.76), physical punishment by parents (OR = 1.66), bullied by others before university (OR = 2.14) and prior mistreatment by teachers from primary to senior high school(OR = 1.73). Having a religious faith was the protective factor (OR = 0.38) (all P values<0.05). CONCLUSION: The incidence of psychological violence among college students is very serious in Guangzhou in 2010. And the influencing factors of it between different genders are different. Females are affected by a wider ranges of factors than males, and are more influenced by family and parents.